Squash hybrid LEBEHH9044 and parents thereof

ABSTRACT

The invention provides seed and plants of squash hybrid LEBEHH9044 and the parent lines thereof. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of squash hybrid LEBEHH9044 and the parent lines thereof, and to methods for producing a squash plant produced by crossing such plants with themselves or with another squash plant, such as a plant of another genotype. The invention further relates to seeds and plants produced by such crossing. The invention further relates to parts of such plants, including the fruit and gametes of such plants.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the priority of U.S. Provisional Appl. Ser. No.61/593,236, filed Jan. 31, 2012, the entire disclosure of which isincorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of plant breeding and, morespecifically, to the development of squash hybrid LEBEHH9044 and theinbred squash lines ZGN-EH-09-7554 and LEB-48-811.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The goal of vegetable breeding is to combine various desirable traits ina single variety/hybrid. Such desirable traits may include any traitdeemed beneficial by a grower and/or consumer, including greater yield,resistance to insects or disease, tolerance to environmental stress, andnutritional value.

Breeding techniques take advantage of a plant's method of pollination.There are two general methods of pollination: a plant self-pollinates ifpollen from one flower is transferred to the same or another flower ofthe same plant or plant variety. A plant cross-pollinates if pollencomes to it from a flower of a different plant variety.

Plants that have been self-pollinated and selected for type over manygenerations become homozygous at almost all gene loci and produce auniform population of true breeding progeny, a homozygous plant. A crossbetween two such homozygous plants of different genotypes produces auniform population of hybrid plants that are heterozygous for many geneloci. Conversely, a cross of two plants each heterozygous at a number ofloci produces a population of hybrid plants that differ genetically andare not uniform. The resulting non-uniformity makes performanceunpredictable.

The development of uniform varieties requires the development ofhomozygous inbred plants, the crossing of these inbred plants, and theevaluation of the crosses. Pedigree breeding and recurrent selection areexamples of breeding methods that have been used to develop inbredplants from breeding populations. Those breeding methods combine thegenetic backgrounds from two or more plants or various other broad-basedsources into breeding pools from which new lines and hybrids derivedtherefrom are developed by selfing and selection of desired phenotypes.The new lines and hybrids are evaluated to determine which of those havecommercial potential.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect, the present invention provides a squash plant of thehybrid designated LEBEHH9044, the squash line ZGN-EH-09-7554 or squashline LEB-48-811. Also provided are squash plants having all thephysiological and morphological characteristics of such a plant. Partsof these squash plants are also provided, for example, including pollen,an ovule, scion, a rootstock, a fruit, and a cell of the plant.

In another aspect of the invention, a plant of squash hybrid LEBEHH9044and/or squash lines ZGN-EH-09-7554 and LEB-48-811 comprising an addedheritable trait is provided. The heritable trait may comprise a geneticlocus that is, for example, a dominant or recessive allele. In oneembodiment of the invention, a plant of squash hybrid LEBEHH9044 and/orsquash lines ZGN-EH-09-7554 and LEB-48-811 is defined as comprising asingle locus conversion. In specific embodiments of the invention, anadded genetic locus confers one or more traits such as, for example,herbicide tolerance, insect resistance, disease resistance, and modifiedcarbohydrate metabolism. In further embodiments, the trait may beconferred by a naturally occurring gene introduced into the genome of aline by backcrossing, a natural or induced mutation, or a transgeneintroduced through genetic transformation techniques into the plant or aprogenitor of any previous generation thereof. When introduced throughtransformation, a genetic locus may comprise one or more genesintegrated at a single chromosomal location.

The invention also concerns the seed of squash hybrid LEBEHH9044 and/orsquash lines ZGN-EH-09-7554 and LEB-48-811. The squash seed of theinvention may be provided as an essentially homogeneous population ofsquash seed of squash hybrid LEBEHH9044 and/or squash linesZGN-EH-09-7554 and LEB-48-811. Essentially homogeneous populations ofseed are generally free from substantial numbers of other seed.Therefore, seed of hybrid LEBEHH9044 and/or squash lines ZGN-EH-09-7554and LEB-48-811 may be defined as forming at least about 97% of the totalseed, including at least about 98%, 99% or more of the seed. The seedpopulation may be separately grown to provide an essentially homogeneouspopulation of squash plants designated LEBEHH9044 and/or squash linesZGN-EH-09-7554 and LEB-48-811.

In yet another aspect of the invention, a tissue culture of regenerablecells of a squash plant of hybrid LEBEHH9044 and/or squash linesZGN-EH-09-7554 and LEB-48-811 is provided. The tissue culture willpreferably be capable of regenerating squash plants capable ofexpressing all of the physiological and morphological characteristics ofthe starting plant, and of regenerating plants having substantially thesame genotype as the starting plant. Examples of some of thephysiological and morphological characteristics of the hybrid LEBEHH9044and/or squash lines ZGN-EH-09-7554 and LEB-48-811 include those traitsset forth in the tables herein. The regenerable cells in such tissuecultures may be derived, for example, from embryos, meristems,cotyledons, pollen, leaves, anthers, roots, root tips, pistils, flowers,seed and stalks. Still further, the present invention provides squashplants regenerated from a tissue culture of the invention, the plantshaving all the physiological and morphological characteristics of hybridLEBEHH9044 and/or squash lines ZGN-EH-09-7554 and LEB-48-811.

In still yet another aspect of the invention, processes are provided forproducing squash seeds, plants and fruit, which processes generallycomprise crossing a first parent squash plant with a second parentsquash plant, wherein at least one of the first or second parent squashplants is a plant of squash line ZGN-EH-09-7554 or squash lineLEB-48-811. These processes may be further exemplified as processes forpreparing hybrid squash seed or plants, wherein a first squash plant iscrossed with a second squash plant of a different, distinct genotype toprovide a hybrid that has, as one of its parents, a plant of squash lineZGN-EH-09-7554 or squash line LEB-48-811. In these processes, crossingwill result in the production of seed. The seed production occursregardless of whether the seed is collected or not.

In one embodiment of the invention, the first step in “crossing”comprises planting seeds of a first and second parent squash plant,often in proximity so that pollination will occur for example, mediatedby insect vectors. Alternatively, pollen can be transferred manually.Where the plant is self-pollinated, pollination may occur without theneed for direct human intervention other than plant cultivation.

A second step may comprise cultivating or growing the seeds of first andsecond parent squash plants into plants that bear flowers. A third stepmay comprise preventing self-pollination of the plants, such as byemasculating the flowers (i.e., killing or removing the pollen).

A fourth step for a hybrid cross may comprise cross-pollination betweenthe first and second parent squash plants. Yet another step comprisesharvesting the seeds from at least one of the parent squash plants. Theharvested seed can be grown to produce a squash plant or hybrid squashplant.

The present invention also provides the squash seeds and plants producedby a process that comprises crossing a first parent squash plant with asecond parent squash plant, wherein at least one of the first or secondparent squash plants is a plant of squash hybrid LEBEHH9044 and/orsquash lines ZGN-EH-09-7554 and LEB-48-811. In one embodiment of theinvention, squash seed and plants produced by the process are firstgeneration (F₁) hybrid squash seed and plants produced by crossing aplant in accordance with the invention with another, distinct plant. Thepresent invention further contemplates plant parts of such an F₁ hybridsquash plant, and methods of use thereof. Therefore, certain exemplaryembodiments of the invention provide an F₁ hybrid squash plant and seedthereof.

In still yet another aspect, the present invention provides a method ofproducing a plant derived from hybrid LEBEHH9044 and/or squash linesZGN-EH-09-7554 and LEB-48-811, the method comprising the steps of: (a)preparing a progeny plant derived from hybrid LEBEHH9044 and/or squashlines ZGN-EH-09-7554 and LEB-48-811, wherein said preparing comprisescrossing a plant of the hybrid LEBEHH9044 and/or squash linesZGN-EH-09-7554 and LEB-48-811 with a second plant; and (b) crossing theprogeny plant with itself or a second plant to produce a seed of aprogeny plant of a subsequent generation. In further embodiments, themethod may additionally comprise: (c) growing a progeny plant of asubsequent generation from said seed of a progeny plant of a subsequentgeneration and crossing the progeny plant of a subsequent generationwith itself or a second plant; and repeating the steps for an additional3-10 generations to produce a plant derived from hybrid LEBEHH9044and/or squash lines ZGN-EH-09-7554 and LEB-48-811. The plant derivedfrom hybrid LEBEHH9044 and/or squash lines ZGN-EH-09-7554 and LEB-48-811may be an inbred line, and the aforementioned repeated crossing stepsmay be defined as comprising sufficient inbreeding to produce the inbredline. In the method, it may be desirable to select particular plantsresulting from step (c) for continued crossing according to steps (b)and (c). By selecting plants having one or more desirable traits, aplant derived from hybrid LEBEHH9044 and/or squash lines ZGN-EH-09-7554and LEB-48-811 is obtained which possesses some of the desirable traitsof the line/hybrid as well as potentially other selected traits.

In certain embodiments, the present invention provides a method ofproducing food or feed comprising: (a) obtaining a plant of squashhybrid LEBEHH9044 and/or squash lines ZGN-EH-09-7554 and LEB-48-811,wherein the plant has been cultivated to maturity, and (b) collecting atleast one squash from the plant.

In still yet another aspect of the invention, the genetic complement ofsquash hybrid LEBEHH9044 and/or squash lines ZGN-EH-09-7554 andLEB-48-811 is provided. The phrase “genetic complement” is used to referto the aggregate of nucleotide sequences, the expression of whichsequences defines the phenotype of, in the present case, a squash plant,or a cell or tissue of that plant. A genetic complement thus representsthe genetic makeup of a cell, tissue or plant, and a hybrid geneticcomplement represents the genetic make up of a hybrid cell, tissue orplant. The invention thus provides squash plant cells that have agenetic complement in accordance with the squash plant cells disclosedherein, and seeds and plants containing such cells.

Plant genetic complements may be assessed by genetic marker profiles,and by the expression of phenotypic traits that are characteristic ofthe expression of the genetic complement, e.g., isozyme typing profiles.It is understood that hybrid LEBEHH9044 and/or squash linesZGN-EH-09-7554 and LEB-48-811 could be identified by any of the manywell known techniques such as, for example, Simple Sequence LengthPolymorphisms (SSLPs) (Williams et al., Nucleic Acids Res., 18:6531-6535, 1990), Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNAs (RAPDs), DNAAmplification Fingerprinting (DAF), Sequence Characterized AmplifiedRegions (SCARs), Arbitrary Primed Polymerase Chain Reaction (AP-PCR),Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphisms (AFLPs) (EP 534 858,specifically incorporated herein by reference in its entirety), andSingle Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) (Wang et al., Science,280:1077-1082, 1998).

In still yet another aspect, the present invention provides hybridgenetic complements, as represented by squash plant cells, tissues,plants, and seeds, formed by the combination of a haploid geneticcomplement of a squash plant of the invention with a haploid geneticcomplement of a second squash plant, preferably, another, distinctsquash plant. In another aspect, the present invention provides a squashplant regenerated from a tissue culture that comprises a hybrid geneticcomplement of this invention.

Any embodiment discussed herein with respect to one aspect of theinvention applies to other aspects of the invention as well, unlessspecifically noted.

The term “about” is used to indicate that a value includes the standarddeviation of the mean for the device or method being employed todetermine the value. The use of the term “or” in the claims is used tomean “and/or” unless explicitly indicated to refer to alternatives onlyor the alternatives are mutually exclusive. When used in conjunctionwith the word “comprising” or other open language in the claims, thewords “a” and “an” denote “one or more,” unless specifically notedotherwise. The terms “comprise,” “have” and “include” are open-endedlinking verbs. Any forms or tenses of one or more of these verbs, suchas “comprises,” “comprising,” “has,” “having,” “includes” and“including,” are also open-ended. For example, any method that“comprises,” “has” or “includes” one or more steps is not limited topossessing only those one or more steps and also covers other unlistedsteps. Similarly, any plant that “comprises,” “has” or “includes” one ormore traits is not limited to possessing only those one or more traitsand covers other unlisted traits.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent from the following detailed description. It should beunderstood, however, that the detailed description and any specificexamples provided, while indicating specific embodiments of theinvention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changesand modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention willbecome apparent to those skilled in the art from this detaileddescription.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides methods and compositions relating to plants,seeds and derivatives of squash hybrid LEBEHH9044, squash lineZGN-EH-09-7554 and squash line LEB-48-811.

Squash hybrid LEBEHH9044 is a Long Lebanese type squash with shortinternode length (appropriate for protected culture/high densitysowing), disease resistance (Podosphaera xanthii, Powdery Mildew), andhigh yield potential compared to commercial and competitor varieties.Hybrid LEBEHH9044 has darker color fruit than market standard“Eskenerany.”

Squash hybrid LEBEHH9044 is adapted for summer openfield crop incold-winter areas. Hybrid LEBEHH9044 is also adapted for openfield inspring or early summer season for openfield in all areas. HybridLEBEHH9044 is also adapted for greenhouse/plastic tunnel/nethouse coolseason production.

A. Origin and Breeding History of Squash Hybrid LEBEHH9044

The parents of hybrid LEBEHH9044 are ZGN-EH-09-7554 and LEB-48-811.These parents were created as follows:

The female parent of LEBEHH9044, LEB-48-811, was developed through sevensequential generations of self pollination of the commercial hybridcultivar “Eskenderany”. Selection was for fruit shape and color.

The male parent ZGN-EH-09-7554 was developed through five generations ofbackcrossing. The source of the trait of interest (resistance to PowderyMildew, ZYMV, and WMV) was a breeding line known as “C88” distributed byINRA in France. The recurrent parent was a proprietary inbred line knownas ZGN-46-42 that was itself a selection from the open pollinatedvariety known as “Black Beauty.” Following the multiple generations ofbackcrossing, five generations of self-pollination were conducted toensure uniformity of the parent line and stability of the traits.

The parent lines are uniform and stable, as is a hybrid producedtherefrom. A small percentage of variants can occur within commerciallyacceptable limits for almost any characteristic during the course ofrepeated multiplication. However no variants are expected.

B. Physiological and Morphological Characteristics of Squash HybridLEBEHH9044, Squash Line ZGN-EH-09-7554 And Squash Line LEB-48-811

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a plant having the physiological and morphologicalcharacteristics of squash hybrid LEBEHH9044 and the parent linesthereof. A description of the physiological and morphologicalcharacteristics of such plants is presented in Tables 1-2.

TABLE 1 Physiological and Morphological Characteristics of HybridLEBEHH9044 Comparison Variety CHARACTERISTIC LEBEHH9044 Anita 1. SpeciesPepo Pepo 2. Kind/Use squash squash 3. Type summer (vegetable marrow)summer 4. Cotyledon length 47.5 mm 42.55 mm width 29.5 mm 28.55 mm apexrounded tapered veining plainly visible plainly visible color mediumgreen medium green color (RHS Color Chart) 137B 137A Seedling shape ofcotyledons elliptic (Cora, Tivoli) elliptic intensity of green color ofmedium (Cora) medium cotyledons cross section of straight (Sunburst)straight cotyledons 5. Mature Plant growth habit bush semi-bush planttype glabrous pilose 6. Main Stem cross-section shape angled rounddiameter at mid-point of 22.5 mm 26.15 mm 1^(st) internode averagelength 27.2 cm 45.8 cm average number of  31  33 internodes Stem colorcompletely green (Becky) partly green and partly yellow intensity ofgreen color dark (Greyzini) very dark mottling absent (Cinderella)absent tendrils absent to rudimentary well developed (Goldrush, Sylvana)Plant growth habit bush (Greyzini) semi-trailing branching absent(Goldi) absent bush varieties only: erect to semi-erect (Sardane)attitude of petiole (excluding lower external leaves) 7. Leaves bladeshape reniform reniform blade form deep lobed deep lobed margin dentatedenticulate margin edges frilled frilled average width 33.8 cm 36.2 cmaverage length 26.9 cm 29.75 cm leaf surface blistered blistered dorsalsurface pubescence soft hairy glabrous vental surface pubescence softhairy glabrous color dark green dark green color (RHS Color Chart) 137A147A leaf blotching blotched with gray blotched with gray leaf blade:size medium (Ambassador) large leaf blade: incisions medium (Jackpot)medium leaf blade: intensity of dark (Everest) dark green color of uppersurface leaf blade: silvery patches present (Civac) present leaf blade:relative area small (Aziz) small covered by silvery patches averagepetiole length 35 cm 38.35 cm petiole length medium (Goldi) longpetiole: number of many (White Bush Scallop) few prickles 8. Flowerpistillate flower: average 16.1 cm 15.9 cm diameter pistillate flower:ovary drum-like drum-like pistillate flower: average 1.4 cm 1.7 cmpedicel length pistillate flower: margin curved curved shape pistillateflower: margin frilled frilled edges pistillate flower: average 1.4 mm1.35 mm sepal width pistillate flower: average 4.3 mm 5.4 mm sepallength pistillate flower: color orange orange pistillate flower: color21A 23A (RHS Color Chart) staminate flower: average 19.8 mm 16.8 mmsepal length staminate flower: average 3.2 mm 3 mm sepal width staminateflower: average 85.5 mm 122.9 mm pedicel length staminate flower: colororange orange female flower: ring at present (Aurore) present inner sideof corolla female flower: color of green (Aurore, Early White green ringat inner side of Bush Scallop, President) corolla female flower:intensity of medium (Samba, Senator) medium green color of ring at innerside of corolla (varieties with green ring at inner side of corolla)male flower: ring at inner present (Goldi) present side of corolla maleflower: color of ring green (Austral, Belor, Goldi) green at inner sideof corolla male flower: intensity of strong (Goldi) medium green colorof ring at inner side of corolla staminate flower: color N25C 17A 9.Fruit market maturity: average 17.7 cm 13.3 cm length market maturity:average 2.1 cm 3.1 cm width - stem end at market maturity: 1.3 cm 3 cmaverage width - blossom end market maturity: average 252.4 gm 236.5 gmweight market maturity: shape straightneck straightneck according tovariety type market maturity: apex rounded flattened market maturity:base rounded rounded market maturity: ribs inconspicuous inconspicuousmarket maturity: rib shallow shallow furrow depth market maturity: ribmedium wide narrow furrow width market maturity: fruit smooth smoothsurface market maturity: warts none none market maturity: blossomslightly extended raised acorn scar button young fruit: ratio length/large (Carlotta) medium maximum diameter (zucchini type varieties) youngfruit: general shape cylindrical (Ambassador, tapered elliptical(zucchini and rounded Ibis) zucchini type varieties) young fruit: maincolor of green (Elite, Opal, Romano) green skin (excluding color of ribsor grooves) young fruit: intensity of very light (Clarita, Goya, lightgreen color of skin (only Patty Green Tint) varieties with green colorof skin) general shape cylindrical club shaped length (zucchini typelong (Carlotta) medium varieties) maximum diameter large (Jericho,Spidy) medium (zucchini type varieties) ratio length/maximum large(Carlotta) medium diameter (zucchini type varieties) blossom end(zucchini and rounded rounded neck type varieties) grooves absent absentribs present present protrusion of ribs weak (Ambassador) weak maincolor of skin green (Ambassador, Baby green (excluding color of dots,Bear) patches, stripes and bands) intensity of green color of very lightlight skin (only varieties with green color of skin) dots present (GoldRush, Table present Queen) size of main dots medium (Grey Zucchini)small warts on skin absent absent size of flower scar medium (Spidi)large length of peduncle medium (Cinderella) medium color of pedunclegreen (Ambassador) green intensity of green color of medium (Sunburst)medium peduncle mottling of peduncle present (Elite) absent ripe fruit:secondary color yellow (Gold Rush) yellow of skin (excluding color ofmottles, patches, stripes and bands) ripe fruit: intensity of mediumlight main color of skin (only yellow and orange) ripe fruit: color offlesh cream (Elite) cream ripe fruit: lignified rind present (Elite,Little Gem, present Scallopini, Yellow Summer Crookneck) ripe fruit:structure of fibrous (Vegetable fibrous flesh Spaghetti) 10. Rindaverage thickness at 2.7 mm 2.5 mm medial toughness hard hard overallcolor pattern regular regular main or ground color yelloworangish-yellow main or ground color 11A 18A (RHS Color Chart) 11. Fleshaverage blossom end 49.9 mm 29.45 mm thickness average medial thickness44.9 mm 52.8 mm average stem end 42.1 mm 26.25 mm thickness texture(fine, granular, fine fine lumpy or stringy) texture (soft, firm or softfirm brittle) texture (dry, moist or juicy juicy juicy) flavor slightlysweet sweet quality good excellent color creamy-white greenish-whitecolor (RHS Color Chart) 150D 157D 12. Seed Cavity average length 37.2 cm25.5 cm average width 5.6 cm 8.7 cm location conforms to fruit shapeconforms to fruit shape placental tissue abundant abundant center coreinconspicuous inconspicuous 13. Fruit Stalks average length 2.1 cm 3.15cm average diameter 1.5 cm 2.1 cm cross-section shape irregularirregular twisting twisted not twisted tapering tapered taperedstraightness slightly curved straight texture spongy soft furrows deepshallow surface rough spiny attachment end slightly expanded expandeddetaches with difficulty easily color dark green medium green color (RHSColor Chart) 137A 143B 14. Seeds average length 15.6 mm 18.6 mm averagewidth 9 mm 9.2 mm average thickness 2 mm 2.8 mm face surface wrinkledsmooth color cream white color (RHS Color Chart) 4D 155A luster glossydull margin straight curved margin edge wedge-like rounded separationfrom pulp moderately easy easy average grams per 100 10 gm 17 gm seedsaverage number of seeds 305 342 per fruit seed coat normal normal sizemedium (Diamant) large shape broad elliptic (Baby Boo) elliptic hullpresent (Baby Bear, Elite) present appearance of hull fully developed(Elite) fully developed color of hull cream (De Nice à Fruit cream Rond)fruit type: zucchini fruit: patches, stripes or absent (Ambassador,Black bands in ripe stage (if Jack) zucchini type) *These are typicalvalues. Values may vary due to environment. Other values that aresubstantially equivalent are also within the scope of the invention.

TABLE 2 Physiological and Morphological Characteristics of LineZGN-EH-09-7554 Comparison Variety CHARACTERISTIC ZGN-EH-09-7554Payroll 1. Species Pepo Pepo 2. Kind/Use squash squash 3. Type summer(vegetable marrow) summer 4. Cotyledon length 39.8 mm 45.5 mm width 26.8mm 29.25 mm apex rounded tapered veining prominent obscure color darkgreen medium green color (RHS Color Chart) 137A 137A Seedling shape ofcotyledons elliptic (Cora, Tivoli) elliptic intensity of green color ofdark (Lidia) medium cotyledons cross section of straight (Sunburst)concave cotyledons 5. Mature Plant growth habit bush bush plant typeglabrous pilose 6. Main Stem cross-section shape angled round diameterat mid-point of 26 mm 23.4 mm 1^(st) internode average length 28 cm30.75 cm average number of 31   24.2 internodes Stem color completelygreen (Becky) completely green intensity of green color dark (Greyzini)dark mottling absent (Cinderella) absent tendrils absent to rudimentarywell developed (Goldrush, Sylvana) Plant growth habit bush (Greyzini)bush branching absent (Goldi) absent bush varieties only: erect tosemi-erect (Sardane) erect attitude of petiole (excluding lower externalleaves) 7. Leaves blade shape reniform reniform blade form shallow lobeddeep lobed margin dentate dentate margin edges frilled frilled averagewidth 33.5 cm 32.4 cm average length 24.8 cm 29.1 cm leaf surfaceblistered blistered dorsal surface pubescence soft hairy soft hairyvental surface pubescence soft hairy soft hairy color dark green darkgreen color (RHS Color Chart) 147A 139A leaf blotching blotched withgray blotched with gray leaf blade: size medium (Ambassador) small leafblade: incisions medium (Jackpot) deep leaf blade: intensity of dark(Everest) dark green color of upper surface leaf blade: silvery patchespresent (Civac) present leaf blade: relative area medium (Ambassador)small covered by silvery patches average petiole length 35.2 cm 35.15 cmpetiole length medium (Goldi) long petiole: number of few (Opaline) fewprickles 8. Flower pistillate flower: average 16 cm 15.3 cm diameterpistillate flower: ovary drum-like drum-like pistillate flower: average1.4 cm 1.75 cm pedicel length pistillate flower: margin curved straightshape pistillate flower: margin frilled frilled edges pistillate flower:average 1.3 mm 1.25 mm sepal width pistillate flower: average 2.3 mm5.25 mm sepal length pistillate flower: color orange orange pistillateflower: color 17A 17A (RHS Color Chart) staminate flower: average 13.6mm 18.5 mm sepal length staminate flower: average 3 mm 2.95 mm sepalwidth staminate flower: average 87.4 mm 175 mm pedicel length staminateflower: color orange orange female flower: ring at present (Aurore)present inner side of corolla female flower: color of green (Aurore,Early White green ring at inner side of Bush Scallop, President) corollafemale flower: intensity of medium (Samba, Senator) medium green colorof ring at inner side of corolla (varieties with green ring at innerside of corolla) male flower: ring at inner present (Goldi) present sideof corolla male flower: color of ring green (Austral, Belor, Goldi)green at inner side of corolla male flower: intensity of strong (Goldi)strong green color of ring at inner side of corolla staminate flower:color 23A 21A 9. Fruit market maturity: average 18 cm 19.05 cm lengthmarket maturity: average 2.2 cm 3.2 cm width - stem end at marketmaturity: 1.3 cm 1.8 cm average width - blossom end market maturity:average 240.6 gm 239 gm weight market maturity: shape straightneckstraightneck according to variety type market maturity: apex roundedrounded market maturity: base rounded taper pointed market maturity:ribs none prominent market maturity: fruit smooth smooth surface marketmaturity: warts none none market maturity: blossom slightly extendedraised acorn scar button young fruit: ratio length/maximum large(Carlotta) large diameter (zucchini type varieties) young fruit: generalshape cylindrical (Ambassador, cylindrical (zucchini and rounded Ibis)zucchini type varieties) young fruit: main color of green (Elite, Opal,Romano) green skin (excluding color of ribs or grooves) young fruit:intensity of dark (Arlesa, Sandra, Zefira) medium green color of skin(excluding color of ribs or grooves; only varieties with green color ofskin) general shape cylindrical cylindrical length (zucchini type long(Carlotta) very long varieties) maximum diameter medium (Opal) medium(zucchini type varieties) ratio length/maximum large (Carlotta) largediameter (zucchini type varieties) blossom end (zucchini and roundedpointed neck type varieties) grooves absent absent ribs absent presentmain color of skin green (Ambassador, Baby green (excluding color ofdots, Bear) patches, stripes and bands) intensity of green color of dark(Cora) medium skin (only varieties with green color of skin) stripes ingrooves absent (Baby Bear, Jack Be absent Little) dots absent (Sunburst)present warts on skin absent absent size of flower scar small (Goldi)small length of peduncle medium (Cinderella) short color of pedunclegreen (Ambassador) green intensity of green color of dark (Gold Rush)medium peduncle mottling of peduncle present (Elite) absent ripe fruit:secondary color yellow (Gold Rush) yellow of skin (excluding color ofmottles, patches, stripes and bands) ripe fruit: intensity of mediummedium main color of skin (only yellow and orange) ripe fruit: secondarycolor orange orange of skin ripe fruit: color of flesh orange (AutumnGold) cream ripe fruit: lignified rind present (Elite, Little Gem,present Scallopini, Yellow Summer Crookneck) ripe fruit: structure ofnot fibrous (Elite) fibrous flesh 10. Rind average thickness at 1.9 mm1.9 mm medial toughness hard hard overall color pattern regular regularmain or ground color green bronze main or ground color N189A 139A (RHSColor Chart) color of blotches orange color of blotches (RHS 25A ColorChart) pattern of blotches not specific 11. Flesh average blossom end42.3 mm 22 mm thickness average medial thickness 43.1 mm 59 mm averagestem end 41 mm 27.4 mm thickness texture (fine, granular, fine finelumpy or stringy) texture (soft, firm or brittle soft brittle) texture(dry, moist or moist moist juicy) flavor slightly sweet slightly sweetquality good good color creamy-white creamy-white color (RHS ColorChart) 2C 151B 12. Seed Cavity average length 25.5 cm 28.85 cm averagewidth 3.7 cm 5 cm location conforms to fruit shape conforms to fruitshape placental tissue abundant abundant center core inconspicuousinconspicuous 13. Fruit Stalks average length 2.1 cm 2.75 cm averagediameter 1.6 cm 2.05 cm cross-section shape irregular irregular twistingtwisted twisted tapering tapered tapered straightness slightly curvedcurved texture spongy soft furrows shallow deep surface rough roughattachment end slightly expanded slightly expanded detaches withdifficulty easily color dark green medium green color (RHS Color Chart)136A 137B 14. Seeds average length 13 mm 14.4 mm average width 8.3 mm8.5 mm average thickness 2.7 mm 2.75 mm face surface smooth smooth colorcream white color (RHS Color Chart) 155A 155A luster glossy dull margincurved curved margin edge rounded rounded separation from pulp easy easyaverage grams per 100 9.3 gm 13.75 gm seeds average number of seeds 70187 per fruit seed coat normal normal size medium (Diamant) small shapebroad elliptic (Baby Boo) elliptic hull present (Baby Bear, Elite)present appearance of hull fully developed (Elite) fully developed colorof hull cream (De Nice à Fruit cream Rond) fruit type: zucchini fruit:patches, stripes or present (Elite, Greyzini) bands in ripe stage (ifzucchini type) *These are typical values. Values may vary due toenvironment Other values that are substantially equivalent are alsowithin the scope of the invention.

C. Breeding Squash Plants

One aspect of the current invention concerns methods for producing seedof squash hybrid LEBEHH9044 involving crossing squash linesZGN-EH-09-7554 and LEB-48-811. Alternatively, in other embodiments ofthe invention, hybrid LEBEHH9044, line ZGN-EH-09-7554, or lineLEB-48-811 may be crossed with itself or with any second plant. Suchmethods can be used for propagation of hybrid LEBEHH9044 and/or thesquash lines ZGN-EH-09-7554 and LEB-48-811, or can be used to produceplants that are derived from hybrid LEBEHH9044 and/or the squash linesZGN-EH-09-7554 and LEB-48-811. Plants derived from hybrid LEBEHH9044and/or the squash lines ZGN-EH-09-7554 and LEB-48-811 may be used, incertain embodiments, for the development of new squash varieties.

The development of new varieties using one or more starting varieties iswell known in the art. In accordance with the invention, novel varietiesmay be created by crossing hybrid LEBEHH9044 followed by multiplegenerations of breeding according to such well known methods. Newvarieties may be created by crossing with any second plant. In selectingsuch a second plant to cross for the purpose of developing novel lines,it may be desired to choose those plants which either themselves exhibitone or more selected desirable characteristics or which exhibit thedesired characteristic(s) when in hybrid combination. Once initialcrosses have been made, inbreeding and selection take place to producenew varieties. For development of a uniform line, often five or moregenerations of selfing and selection are involved.

Uniform lines of new varieties may also be developed by way ofdouble-haploids. This technique allows the creation of true breedinglines without the need for multiple generations of selfing andselection. In this manner true breeding lines can be produced in aslittle as one generation. Haploid embryos may be produced frommicrospores, pollen, anther cultures, or ovary cultures. The haploidembryos may then be doubled autonomously, or by chemical treatments(e.g. colchicine treatment). Alternatively, haploid embryos may be growninto haploid plants and treated to induce chromosome doubling. In eithercase, fertile homozygous plants are obtained. In accordance with theinvention, any of such techniques may be used in connection with a plantof the invention and progeny thereof to achieve a homozygous line.

Backcrossing can also be used to improve an inbred plant. Backcrossingtransfers a specific desirable trait from one inbred or non-inbredsource to an inbred that lacks that trait. This can be accomplished, forexample, by first crossing a superior inbred (A) (recurrent parent) to adonor inbred (non-recurrent parent), which carries the appropriate locusor loci for the trait in question. The progeny of this cross are thenmated back to the superior recurrent parent (A) followed by selection inthe resultant progeny for the desired trait to be transferred from thenon-recurrent parent. After five or more backcross generations withselection for the desired trait, the progeny have the characteristicbeing transferred, but are like the superior parent for most or almostall other loci. The last backcross generation would be selfed to givepure breeding progeny for the trait being transferred.

The plants of the present invention are particularly well suited for thedevelopment of new lines based on the elite nature of the geneticbackground of the plants. In selecting a second plant to cross withLEBEHH9044 and/or squash lines ZGN-EH-09-7554 and LEB-48-811 for thepurpose of developing novel squash lines, it will typically be preferredto choose those plants which either themselves exhibit one or moreselected desirable characteristics or which exhibit the desiredcharacteristic(s) when in hybrid combination. Examples of desirabletraits may include, in specific embodiments, high seed yield, high seedgermination, seedling vigor, high fruit yield, disease tolerance orresistance, and adaptability for soil and climate conditions.Consumer-driven traits, such as a fruit shape, color, texture, and tasteare other examples of traits that may be incorporated into new lines ofsquash plants developed by this invention.

D. Performance Characteristics

As described above, hybrid LEBEHH9044 exhibits desirable traits, asconferred by squash lines ZGN-EH-09-7554 and LEB-48-811. The performancecharacteristics of hybrid LEBEHH9044 and squash lines ZGN-EH-09-7554 andLEB-48-811 were the subject of an objective analysis of the performancetraits relative to other varieties. The results of the analysis arepresented below.

TABLE 3 Hybrid performance data, LEBEHH9044 vs. Eskenderany, Woodland CAsummer 2010 openfield, 20 harvest dates. Powdery Plant Growth MildewViral Severity Marketable Hybrid Habit Score Score Score Fruit/PlantLEBEHH9044 2 3 4 16.6 Eskenderany 6 7 6 18.3

E. Further Embodiments of the Invention

In certain aspects of the invention, plants described herein areprovided modified to include at least a first desired heritable trait.Such plants may, in one embodiment, be developed by a plant breedingtechnique called backcrossing, wherein essentially all of themorphological and physiological characteristics of a variety arerecovered in addition to a genetic locus transferred into the plant viathe backcrossing technique. The term single locus converted plant asused herein refers to those squash plants which are developed by a plantbreeding technique called backcrossing, wherein essentially all of themorphological and physiological characteristics of a variety arerecovered in addition to the single locus transferred into the varietyvia the backcrossing technique. By essentially all of the morphologicaland physiological characteristics, it is meant that the characteristicsof a plant are recovered that are otherwise present when compared in thesame environment, other than an occasional variant trait that mightarise during backcrossing or direct introduction of a transgene.

Backcrossing methods can be used with the present invention to improveor introduce a characteristic into the present variety. The parentalsquash plant which contributes the locus for the desired characteristicis termed the nonrecurrent or donor parent. This terminology refers tothe fact that the nonrecurrent parent is used one time in the backcrossprotocol and therefore does not recur. The parental squash plant towhich the locus or loci from the nonrecurrent parent are transferred isknown as the recurrent parent as it is used for several rounds in thebackcrossing protocol.

In a typical backcross protocol, the original variety of interest(recurrent parent) is crossed to a second variety (nonrecurrent parent)that carries the single locus of interest to be transferred. Theresulting progeny from this cross are then crossed again to therecurrent parent and the process is repeated until a squash plant isobtained wherein essentially all of the morphological and physiologicalcharacteristics of the recurrent parent are recovered in the convertedplant, in addition to the single transferred locus from the nonrecurrentparent.

The selection of a suitable recurrent parent is an important step for asuccessful backcrossing procedure. The goal of a backcross protocol isto alter or substitute a single trait or characteristic in the originalvariety. To accomplish this, a single locus of the recurrent variety ismodified or substituted with the desired locus from the nonrecurrentparent, while retaining essentially all of the rest of the desiredgenetic, and therefore the desired physiological and morphologicalconstitution of the original variety. The choice of the particularnonrecurrent parent will depend on the purpose of the backcross; one ofthe major purposes is to add some commercially desirable trait to theplant. The exact backcrossing protocol will depend on the characteristicor trait being altered and the genetic distance between the recurrentand nonrecurrent parents. Although backcrossing methods are simplifiedwhen the characteristic being transferred is a dominant allele, arecessive allele, or an additive allele (between recessive anddominant), may also be transferred. In this instance it may be necessaryto introduce a test of the progeny to determine if the desiredcharacteristic has been successfully transferred.

In one embodiment, progeny squash plants of a backcross in which a plantdescribed herein is the recurrent parent comprise (i) the desired traitfrom the non-recurrent parent and (ii) all of the physiological andmorphological characteristics of squash the recurrent parent asdetermined at the 5% significance level when grown in the sameenvironmental conditions.

New varieties can also be developed from more than two parents. Thetechnique, known as modified backcrossing, uses different recurrentparents during the backcrossing. Modified backcrossing may be used toreplace the original recurrent parent with a variety having certain moredesirable characteristics or multiple parents may be used to obtaindifferent desirable characteristics from each.

With the development of molecular markers associated with particulartraits, it is possible to add additional traits into an established germline, such as represented here, with the end result being substantiallythe same base germplasm with the addition of a new trait or traits.Molecular breeding, as described in Moose and Mumm, 2008 (PlantPhysiology, 147: 969-977), for example, and elsewhere, provides amechanism for integrating single or multiple traits or QTL into an eliteline. This molecular breeding-facilitated movement of a trait or traitsinto an elite line may encompass incorporation of a particular genomicfragment associated with a particular trait of interest into the eliteline by the mechanism of identification of the integrated genomicfragment with the use of flanking or associated marker assays. In theembodiment represented here, one, two, three or four genomic loci, forexample, may be integrated into an elite line via this methodology. Whenthis elite line containing the additional loci is further crossed withanother parental elite line to produce hybrid offspring, it is possibleto then incorporate at least eight separate additional loci into thehybrid. These additional loci may confer, for example, such traits as adisease resistance or a fruit quality trait. In one embodiment, eachlocus may confer a separate trait. In another embodiment, loci may needto be homozygous and exist in each parent line to confer a trait in thehybrid. In yet another embodiment, multiple loci may be combined toconfer a single robust phenotype of a desired trait.

Many single locus traits have been identified that are not regularlyselected for in the development of a new inbred but that can be improvedby backcrossing techniques. Single locus traits may or may not betransgenic; examples of these traits include, but are not limited to,herbicide resistance, resistance to bacterial, fungal, or viral disease,insect resistance, modified fatty acid or carbohydrate metabolism, andaltered nutritional quality. These comprise genes generally inheritedthrough the nucleus.

Direct selection may be applied where the single locus acts as adominant trait. For this selection process, the progeny of the initialcross are assayed for viral resistance and/or the presence of thecorresponding gene prior to the backcrossing. Selection eliminates anyplants that do not have the desired gene and resistance trait, and onlythose plants that have the trait are used in the subsequent backcross.This process is then repeated for all additional backcross generations.

Selection of squash plants for breeding is not necessarily dependent onthe phenotype of a plant and instead can be based on geneticinvestigations. For example, one can utilize a suitable genetic markerwhich is closely genetically linked to a trait of interest. One of thesemarkers can be used to identify the presence or absence of a trait inthe offspring of a particular cross, and can be used in selection ofprogeny for continued breeding. This technique is commonly referred toas marker assisted selection. Any other type of genetic marker or otherassay which is able to identify the relative presence or absence of atrait of interest in a plant can also be useful for breeding purposes.Procedures for marker assisted selection are well known in the art. Suchmethods will be of particular utility in the case of recessive traitsand variable phenotypes, or where conventional assays may be moreexpensive, time consuming or otherwise disadvantageous. Types of geneticmarkers which could be used in accordance with the invention include,but are not necessarily limited to, Simple Sequence Length Polymorphisms(SSLPs) (Williams et al., Nucleic Acids Res., 1 8:6531-6535, 1990),Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNAs (RAPDs), DNA AmplificationFingerprinting (DAF), Sequence Characterized Amplified Regions (SCARs),Arbitrary Primed Polymerase Chain Reaction (AP-PCR), Amplified FragmentLength Polymorphisms (AFLPs) (EP 534 858, specifically incorporatedherein by reference in its entirety), and Single NucleotidePolymorphisms (SNPs) (Wang et al., Science, 280:1077-1082, 1998).

F. Plants Derived by Genetic Engineering

Many useful traits that can be introduced by backcrossing, as well asdirectly into a plant, are those which are introduced by genetictransformation techniques. Genetic transformation may therefore be usedto insert a selected transgene into a plant of the invention or may,alternatively, be used for the preparation of transgenes which can beintroduced by backcrossing. Methods for the transformation of plantsthat are well known to those of skill in the art and applicable to manycrop species include, but are not limited to, electroporation,microprojectile bombardment, Agrobacterium-mediated transformation anddirect DNA uptake by protoplasts.

To effect transformation by electroporation, one may employ eitherfriable tissues, such as a suspension culture of cells or embryogeniccallus or alternatively one may transform immature embryos or otherorganized tissue directly. In this technique, one would partiallydegrade the cell walls of the chosen cells by exposing them topectin-degrading enzymes (pectolyases) or mechanically wound tissues ina controlled manner.

An efficient method for delivering transforming DNA segments to plantcells is microprojectile bombardment. In this method, particles arecoated with nucleic acids and delivered into cells by a propellingforce. Exemplary particles include those comprised of tungsten,platinum, and preferably, gold. For the bombardment, cells in suspensionare concentrated on filters or solid culture medium. Alternatively,immature embryos or other target cells may be arranged on solid culturemedium. The cells to be bombarded are positioned at an appropriatedistance below the macroprojectile stopping plate.

An illustrative embodiment of a method for delivering DNA into plantcells by acceleration is the Biolistics Particle Delivery System, whichcan be used to propel particles coated with DNA or cells through ascreen, such as a stainless steel or Nytex screen, onto a surfacecovered with target cells. The screen disperses the particles so thatthey are not delivered to the recipient cells in large aggregates.Microprojectile bombardment techniques are widely applicable, and may beused to transform virtually any plant species.

Agrobacterium-mediated transfer is another widely applicable system forintroducing gene loci into plant cells. An advantage of the technique isthat DNA can be introduced into whole plant tissues, thereby bypassingthe need for regeneration of an intact plant from a protoplast. ModernAgrobacterium transformation vectors are capable of replication in E.coli as well as Agrobacterium, allowing for convenient manipulations(Klee et al., Bio-Technology, 3(7):637-642, 1985). Moreover, recenttechnological advances in vectors for Agrobacterium-mediated genetransfer have improved the arrangement of genes and restriction sites inthe vectors to facilitate the construction of vectors capable ofexpressing various polypeptide coding genes. The vectors described haveconvenient multi-linker regions flanked by a promoter and apolyadenylation site for direct expression of inserted polypeptidecoding genes. Additionally, Agrobacterium containing both armed anddisarmed Ti genes can be used for transformation.

In those plant strains where Agrobacterium-mediated transformation isefficient, it is the method of choice because of the facile and definednature of the gene locus transfer. The use of Agrobacterium-mediatedplant integrating vectors to introduce DNA into plant cells is wellknown in the art (Fraley et al., Bio/Technology, 3:629-635, 1985; U.S.Pat. No. 5,563,055).

Transformation of plant protoplasts also can be achieved using methodsbased on calcium phosphate precipitation, polyethylene glycol treatment,electroporation, and combinations of these treatments (see, e.g.,Potrykus et al., Mol. Gen. Genet., 199:183-188, 1985; Omirulleh et al.,Plant Mol. Biol., 21(3):415-428, 1993; Fromm et al., Nature,312:791-793, 1986; Uchimiya et al., Mol. Gen. Genet., 204:204, 1986;Marcotte et al., Nature, 335:454, 1988). Transformation of plants andexpression of foreign genetic elements is exemplified in Choi et al.(Plant Cell Rep., 13: 344-348, 1994), and Ellul et al. (Theor. Appl.Genet., 107:462-469, 2003).

A number of promoters have utility for plant gene expression for anygene of interest including but not limited to selectable markers,scoreable markers, genes for pest tolerance, disease resistance,nutritional enhancements and any other gene of agronomic interest.Examples of constitutive promoters useful for plant gene expressioninclude, but are not limited to, the cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV)P-35S promoter, which confers constitutive, high-level expression inmost plant tissues (see, e.g., Odel et al., Nature, 313:810, 1985),including in monocots (see, e.g., Dekeyser et al., Plant Cell, 2:591,1990; Terada and Shimamoto, Mol. Gen. Genet., 220:389, 1990); a tandemlyduplicated version of the CaMV 35S promoter, the enhanced 35S promoter(P-e35S); 1 the nopaline synthase promoter (An et al., Plant Physiol.,88:547, 1988); the octopine synthase promoter (Fromm et al., Plant Cell,1:977, 1989); and the figwort mosaic virus (P-FMV) promoter as describedin U.S. Pat. No. 5,378,619 and an enhanced version of the FMV promoter(P-eFMV) where the promoter sequence of P-FMV is duplicated in tandem;the cauliflower mosaic virus 19S promoter; a sugarcane bacilliform viruspromoter; a commelina yellow mottle virus promoter; and other plant DNAvirus promoters known to express in plant cells.

A variety of plant gene promoters that are regulated in response toenvironmental, hormonal, chemical, and/or developmental signals can alsobe used for expression of an operably linked gene in plant cells,including promoters regulated by (1) heat (Callis et al., PlantPhysiol., 88:965, 1988), (2) light (e.g., pea rbcS-3A promoter,Kuhlemeier et al., Plant Cell, 1:471, 1989; maize rbcS promoter,Schaffner and Sheen, Plant Cell, 3:997, 1991; or chlorophyll a/b-bindingprotein promoter, Simpson et al., EMBO J., 4:2723, 1985), (3) hormones,such as abscisic acid (Marcotte et al., Plant Cell, 1:969, 1989), (4)wounding (e.g., wunl, Siebertz et al., Plant Cell, 1:961, 1989); or (5)chemicals such as methyl jasmonate, salicylic acid, or Safener. It mayalso be advantageous to employ organ-specific promoters (e.g., Roshal etal., EMBO J., 6:1155, 1987; Schernthaner et al., EMBO J., 7:1249, 1988;Bustos et al., Plant Cell, 1:839, 1989).

Exemplary nucleic acids which may be introduced to plants of thisinvention include, for example, DNA sequences or genes from anotherspecies, or even genes or sequences which originate with or are presentin the same species, but are incorporated into recipient cells bygenetic engineering methods rather than classical reproduction orbreeding techniques. However, the term “exogenous” is also intended torefer to genes that are not normally present in the cell beingtransformed, or perhaps simply not present in the form, structure, etc.,as found in the transforming DNA segment or gene, or genes which arenormally present and that one desires to express in a manner thatdiffers from the natural expression pattern, e.g., to over-express.Thus, the term “exogenous” gene or DNA is intended to refer to any geneor DNA segment that is introduced into a recipient cell, regardless ofwhether a similar gene may already be present in such a cell. The typeof DNA included in the exogenous DNA can include DNA which is alreadypresent in the plant cell, DNA from another plant, DNA from a differentorganism, or a DNA generated externally, such as a DNA sequencecontaining an antisense message of a gene, or a DNA sequence encoding asynthetic or modified version of a gene.

Many hundreds if not thousands of different genes are known and couldpotentially be introduced into a squash plant according to theinvention. Non-limiting examples of particular genes and correspondingphenotypes one may choose to introduce into a squash plant include oneor more genes for insect tolerance, such as a Bacillus thuringiensis(B.t.) gene, pest tolerance such as genes for fungal disease control,herbicide tolerance such as genes conferring glyphosate tolerance, andgenes for quality improvements such as yield, nutritional enhancements,environmental or stress tolerances, or any desirable changes in plantphysiology, growth, development, morphology or plant product(s). Forexample, structural genes would include any gene that confers insecttolerance including but not limited to a Bacillus insect control proteingene as described in WO 99/31248, herein incorporated by reference inits entirety, U.S. Pat. No. 5,689,052, herein incorporated by referencein its entirety, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,500,365 and 5,880,275, hereinincorporated by reference in their entirety. In another embodiment, thestructural gene can confer tolerance to the herbicide glyphosate asconferred by genes including, but not limited to Agrobacterium strainCP4 glyphosate resistant EPSPS gene (aroA:CP4) as described in U.S. Pat.No. 5,633,435, herein incorporated by reference in its entirety, orglyphosate oxidoreductase gene (GOX) as described in U.S. Pat. No.5,463,175, herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

Alternatively, the DNA coding sequences can affect these phenotypes byencoding a non-translatable RNA molecule that causes the targetedinhibition of expression of an endogenous gene, for example viaantisense- or cosuppression-mediated mechanisms (see, for example, Birdet al., Biotech. Gen. Engin. Rev., 9:207, 1991). The RNA could also be acatalytic RNA molecule (i.e., a ribozyme) engineered to cleave a desiredendogenous mRNA product (see for example, Gibson and Shillito, Mol.Biotech., 7:125, 1997). Thus, any gene which produces a protein or mRNAwhich expresses a phenotype or morphology change of interest is usefulfor the practice of the present invention.

G. Definitions

In the description and tables herein, a number of terms are used. Inorder to provide a clear and consistent understanding of thespecification and claims, the following definitions are provided:

Allele: Any of one or more alternative forms of a gene locus, all ofwhich alleles relate to one trait or characteristic. In a diploid cellor organism, the two alleles of a given gene occupy corresponding locion a pair of homologous chromosomes.

Backcrossing: A process in which a breeder repeatedly crosses hybridprogeny, for example a first generation hybrid (F₁), back to one of theparents of the hybrid progeny. Backcrossing can be used to introduce oneor more single locus conversions from one genetic background intoanother.

Crossing: The mating of two parent plants.

Cross-pollination: Fertilization by the union of two gametes fromdifferent plants.

Diploid: A cell or organism having two sets of chromosomes.

Emasculate: The removal of plant male sex organs or the inactivation ofthe organs with a cytoplasmic or nuclear genetic factor or a chemicalagent conferring male sterility.

Enzymes: Molecules which can act as catalysts in biological reactions.

F₁ Hybrid: The first generation progeny of the cross of two nonisogenicplants.

Genotype: The genetic constitution of a cell or organism.

Haploid: A cell or organism having one set of the two sets ofchromosomes in a diploid.

Linkage: A phenomenon wherein alleles on the same chromosome tend tosegregate together more often than expected by chance if theirtransmission was independent.

Marker: A readily detectable phenotype, preferably inherited incodominant fashion (both alleles at a locus in a diploid heterozygoteare readily detectable), with no environmental variance component, i.e.,heritability of 1.

Phenotype: The detectable characteristics of a cell or organism, whichcharacteristics are the manifestation of gene expression.

Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL): Quantitative trait loci (QTL) refer togenetic loci that control to some degree numerically representabletraits that are usually continuously distributed.

Resistance: As used herein, the terms “resistance” and “tolerance” areused interchangeably to describe plants that show no symptoms to aspecified biotic pest, pathogen, abiotic influence or environmentalcondition. These terms are also used to describe plants showing somesymptoms but that are still able to produce marketable product with anacceptable yield. Some plants that are referred to as resistant ortolerant are only so in the sense that they may still produce a crop,even though the plants are stunted and the yield is reduced.

Regeneration: The development of a plant from tissue culture.

Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) color chart value: The RHS color chartis a standardized reference which allows accurate identification of anycolor. A color's designation on the chart describes its hue, brightnessand saturation. A color is precisely named by the RHS color chart byidentifying the group name, sheet number and letter, e.g., Yellow-OrangeGroup 19A or Red Group 41B.

Self-pollination: The transfer of pollen from the anther to the stigmaof the same plant.

Single Locus Converted (Conversion) Plant: Plants which are developed bya plant breeding technique called backcrossing, wherein essentially allof the morphological and physiological characteristics of a squashvariety are recovered in addition to the characteristics of the singlelocus transferred into the variety via the backcrossing technique and/orby genetic transformation.

Substantially Equivalent: A characteristic that, when compared, does notshow a statistically significant difference (e.g., p=0.05) from themean.

Tissue Culture: A composition comprising isolated cells of the same or adifferent type or a collection of such cells organized into parts of aplant.

Transgene: A genetic locus comprising a sequence which has beenintroduced into the genome of a squash plant by transformation.

H. Deposit Information

A deposit of squash hybrid LEBEHH9044 and inbred parent lineZGN-EH-09-7554, disclosed above and recited in the claims, has been madewith the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC), 10801 UniversityBlvd., Manassas, Va. 20110-2209. The date of deposit was Feb. 21, 2012.The accession numbers for those deposited seeds of squash hybridLEBEHH9044 and inbred parent line ZGN-EH-09-7554 are ATCC Accession No.PTA-12567, and ATCC Accession No. PTA-12566, respectively. Upon issuanceof a patent, all restrictions upon the deposits will be removed, and thedeposits are intended to meet all of the requirements of 37 C.F.R.§1.801-1.809. The deposits will be maintained in the depository for aperiod of 30 years, or 5 years after the last request, or for theeffective life of the patent, whichever is longer, and will be replacedif necessary during that period.

Although the foregoing invention has been described in some detail byway of illustration and example for purposes of clarity andunderstanding, it will be obvious that certain changes and modificationsmay be practiced within the scope of the invention, as limited only bythe scope of the appended claims.

All references cited herein are hereby expressly incorporated herein byreference.

What is claimed is:
 1. A squash plant comprising at least a first set ofthe chromosomes of squash line ZGN-EH-09-7554, a sample of seed of saidline having been deposited under ATCC Accession Number PTA-12566.
 2. Aseed comprising at least a first set of the chromosomes of squash lineZGN-EH-09-7554, a sample of seed of said line having been depositedunder ATCC Accession Number PTA-12566.
 3. The plant of claim 1, which isinbred.
 4. The plant of claim 1, which is hybrid.
 5. The seed of claim2, which is inbred.
 6. The seed of claim 2, which is hybrid.
 7. Theplant of claim 4, wherein the hybrid plant is squash hybrid LEBEHH9044,a sample of seed of said hybrid LEBEHH9044 having been deposited underATCC Accession Number PTA-12567.
 8. The seed of claim 6, defined as aseed of squash hybrid LEBEHH9044, a sample of seed of said hybridLEBEHH9044 having been deposited under ATCC Accession Number PTA-12567.9. The seed of claim 2, defined as a seed of line ZGN-EH-09-7554.
 10. Aplant part of the plant of claim
 1. 11. The plant part of claim 10,further defined as a leaf, an ovule, pollen, a fruit, or a cell.
 12. Asquash plant having all the physiological and morphologicalcharacteristics of the squash plant of claim
 7. 13. A tissue culture ofregenerable cells of the plant of claim 1, said cells comprising atleast a first set of the chromosomes of squash line ZGN-EH-09-7554, asample of seed of said line having been deposited under ATCC AccessionNumber PTA-12566.
 14. The tissue culture according to claim 13,comprising cells or protoplasts from a plant part selected from thegroup consisting of embryos, meristems, cotyledons, pollen, leaves,anthers, roots, root tips, pistil, flower, seed and stalks.
 15. A squashplant regenerated from the tissue culture of claim
 13. 16. A method ofvegetatively propagating the plant of claim 1, said method comprisingthe steps of: (a) collecting tissue capable of being propagated from aplant according to claim 1; (b) cultivating said tissue to obtainproliferated shoots; and (c) rooting said proliferated shoots to obtainrooted plantlets.
 17. The method of claim 16, further comprising growingat least a first plant from said rooted plantlets.
 18. A method ofintroducing a desired trait into a squash line, said method comprising:(a) crossing a plant of line ZGN-EH-09-7554 with a second squash plantthat comprises a desired trait to produce F1 progeny, a sample of seedof said line having been deposited under ATCC Accession NumberPTA-12566; (b) selecting an F1 progeny that comprises the desired trait;(c) backcrossing the selected F1 progeny with a plant of lineZGN-EH-09-7554 to produce backcross progeny; (d) selecting backcrossprogeny comprising the desired trait and the physiological andmorphological characteristics of squash line ZGN-EH-09-7554; and (e)repeating steps (c) and (d) three or more times to produce selectedfourth or higher backcross progeny that comprise the desired trait andotherwise comprises all of the morphological and physiologicalcharacteristics of line ZGN-EH-09-7554.
 19. A squash plant produced bythe method of claim 18, wherein the plant has the desired trait andotherwise comprises all of the morphological and physiologicalcharacteristics of squash line ZGN-EH-09-7554.
 20. A method of producinga plant comprising an added trait, said method comprising introducing atransgene conferring the trait into a plant of hybrid LEBEHH9044, orline ZGN-EH-09-7554, a sample of seed of said hybrid and line havingbeen deposited under ATCC Accession Number PTA-12567, and ATCC AccessionNumber PTA-12566, respectively.
 21. A plant produced by the method ofclaim 20, wherein the plant otherwise comprises all of the morphologicaland physiological characteristics of squash hybrid LEBEHH9044 or squashline ZGN-EH-09-7554.
 22. The plant of claim 1, further comprising atransgene.
 23. The plant of claim 22, wherein the transgene confers atrait selected from the group consisting of male sterility, herbicidetolerance, insect resistance, pest resistance, disease resistance,modified fatty acid metabolism, environmental stress tolerance, modifiedcarbohydrate metabolism and modified protein metabolism.
 24. A plantproduced by introducing a single locus conversion into a plant of squashline ZGN-EH-09-7554, a sample of seed of said line having been depositedunder ATCC Accession Number PTA-12566, wherein said plant comprises thesingle locus conversion and all of the morphological and physiologicalcharacteristics of squash line ZGN-EH-09-7554.
 25. The plant of claim24, wherein the single locus conversion confers a trait selected fromthe group consisting of male sterility, herbicide tolerance, insectresistance, pest resistance, disease resistance, modified fatty acidmetabolism, environmental stress tolerance, modified carbohydratemetabolism and modified protein metabolism.
 26. A method for producing aseed of a plant derived from at least one of hybrid LEBEHH9044, or lineZGN-EH-09-7554, said method comprising the steps of: (a) crossing asquash plant of hybrid LEBEHH9044, or line ZGN-EH-09-7554 with itself ora second squash plant; a sample of seed of said hybrid and line havingbeen deposited under ATCC Accession Number PTA-12567, and ATCC AccessionNumber PTA-12566, respectively; and (b) allowing seed of a hybridLEBEHH9044, or line ZGN-EH-09-7554-derived squash plant to form.
 27. Themethod of claim 26, further comprising the steps of: (c) selfing a plantgrown from said hybrid LEBEHH9044, or ZGN-EH-09-7554-derived squash seedto yield additional hybrid LEBEHH9044, or line ZGN-EH-09-7554-derivedsquash seed; (d) growing said additional hybrid LEBEHH9044, or lineZGN-EH-09-7554-derived squash seed of step (c) to yield additionalhybrid LEBEHH9044, or line ZGN-EH-09-7554-derived squash plants; and (e)repeating the crossing and growing steps of (c) and (d) to generate atleast a first further hybrid LEBEHH9044, or line ZGN-EH-09-7554-derivedsquash plant.
 28. The method of claim 26, wherein the second squashplant is of an inbred squash line.
 29. The method of claim 27, furthercomprising: (f) crossing the further hybrid LEBEHH9044, orZGN-EH-09-7554-derived squash plant with a second squash plant toproduce seed of a hybrid progeny plant.
 30. A plant part of the plant ofclaim
 7. 31. The plant part of claim 30, further defined as a leaf, anovule, pollen, a fruit, or a cell.
 32. A method of producing a squashseed, said method comprising crossing the plant of claim 1 with itselfor a second squash plant and allowing seed to form.
 33. A method ofproducing a squash, said method comprising: (a) obtaining a plantaccording to claim 1, wherein the plant has been cultivated to maturity;and (b) collecting a squash from the plant.